Three second-half turnovers doom Broncos’ upset bid in loss to Kansas City – The Denver Post

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Teddy Bridgewater sat on the bench after his second interception, helmet off and using both hands to rub his temples. Imagine his thoughts after he became the latest Broncos starting quarterback to lose to Kansas City.

About the first interception, which was the kind of throw veterans like him shouldn’t make.

About the second turnover, which was returned for a touchdown to seal the Chiefs’ 22-9 win Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium. And about the loss, which put a dent in his team’s playoff hopes.

It was an opportunity squandered by Bridgewater and the team’s anemic offense, failing to capitalize on their defense holding the Chiefs’ offense to only one touchdown.

The Chiefs have won 12 consecutive games over the Broncos. KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes has never lost to the Broncos (8-0). Broncos coach Vic Fangio has never beat the Chiefs (0-5).

“Obviously a tough loss tonight,” Bridgewater said. “In this environment and against an opponent like the Chiefs, you’re not going to walk away with the win (committing) three turnovers.”

Kansas City sealed the win with 9:42 remaining. On fourth-and-2, linebacker Ben Niemann deflected Bridgewater’s pass. Safety Daniel Sorenson collected the interception and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown and a 22-3 lead.

The loss wasn’t an end-all for the Broncos, who fell to 6-6, but it certainly narrows their margin for error in order to make the playoffs.

Kansas City (8-4) leads the division, followed by the Los Angeles Chargers (7-5). Las Vegas blew a late home lead to Washington to fall to 6-6 and the Raiders next play at the Chiefs.

The Broncos must win their next two games, home against Detroit (which may well be still celebrating its first win when its charter flight touches down in Denver on Saturday) and Cincinnati (the Bengals looked out of sorts against the Bolts on Sunday).

“We have five games left; they’re all playoff games and we hold our destiny in our hands,” Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton said. “It’s a win-or-go-home mentality. The locker room understands that and is rallying around that.”

That the Broncos were within one possession of the Chiefs until the 5:35 mark of the third quarter was a semi-accomplishment considering how the game started.

The first 10-plus minutes were a debacle for the Broncos, who didn’t appear ready for the opponent or the stage.

Fangio made the rare decision to take the football after winning the toss. The offense went three-and-out and the Chiefs were off and running … and passing. Kansas City moved 72 yards over 12 plays to take a 7-0 lead on Mahomes’ 10-yard scramble to the corner of the end zone.

The Broncos responded with a three-and-out and the Chiefs made it 10-0 on Harrison Butker’s 56-yard field goal that clanged off the left upright and fell through.

At that point, the Chiefs had a 124-2 advantage in yards and it felt like 1,124-2.

But to their credit, the Broncos woke up, starting with a 36-yard catch-and-run by receiver Jerry Jeudy on a right-to-left over route. Armed with field position, running back Javonte Williams gained 14 and Bridgewater scrambled for nine to set up first down at the Chiefs’ 14. But penalties on Sutton (pass interference) and Bridgewater (intentional grounding) made it a second-and-30 and Brandon McManus was good from 42 yards.

After forcing a Chiefs punt, the Broncos started at their 3-yard line. The season’s longest drive in terms of plays (20) and time elapsed (11 minutes, 9 seconds) ended with no points when Williams was stopped for a one-yard loss on fourth-and-2 from the Kansas City 8; linebacker Willie Gay darted inside too quickly for right guard Quinn Meinerz to make the block.

“You get the ball all the way down the field and you don’t score, it (stinks),” Bridgewater said.

The verdict on passing on three points? The right move after talking all week about how field goals won’t cut it against the Chiefs in Kansas City. And, really, at that point, what was the difference between being down 10-3 and 10-6? Underdogs need to be aggressive.

But it was a missed opportunity, the same for early in the third quarter when Surtain corralled Mahomes’ pass for his fourth interception of the year (third in two games) when it went through the hands of receiver Tyreek Hill. The Broncos then went three-and-out.

The Chiefs took the ensuing possession into Broncos’ territory on running back Darrel Williams’ 38-yard catch-and-run. But Kansas City stalled and Butker’s 45-yard field goal made it 13-3 with 5:35 left in the third quarter.

Cue the Broncos’ unraveling. Williams converted a third-and-1 (eight-yard run) to reach Chiefs’ territory, but on the next play, Bridgewater was intercepted by safety Juan Thornhill. Bridgewater was looking for Jeudy and it was if he didn’t see Thornhill lurking underneath the route.

The Broncos’ breakdown spiraled on the final play of the third quarter when Caden Sterns collided with punt returner Diontae Spencer. Hello, near-weekly special teams fiasco. The Chiefs recovered at the Broncos’ 16. The defense held and Butker’s 26-yard field goal extended the lead to 16-3 with 13:26 remaining.

Sorenson’s interception, the Broncos’ third second-half turnover, ended the upset hopes.

Williams’ 13-yard touchdown catch with 5:12 remaining cut the Chiefs’ lead to 13 points. Kansas City covered the onside kick.

“We just have to rebound and start this last five-game run playing Detroit and get back on track,” Fangio said. “We’re still in the hunt and can take care of business.”

Source: Read Full Article